CM Bhupendra Patel condoles passing of Morbi Rajmata Vijaykunvarba
Synopsis
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel mourned the death of Rajmata Vijaykunvarba of Morbi on 17 October 2026, praising her service to the people and praying for peace for her soul and strength for the bereaved royal family.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel expressed condolences on 17 October 2026 over the passing of Rajmata Vijaykunvarba of Morbi .
CM Patel praised her 'abiding affection for the people of Morbi' and her commitment to public welfare.
Morbi is a city in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, historically a prominent princely state.
The post closed with the prayer Om Shanti , and a plea for strength for the royal family and her loved ones.
Gujarat Chief Ministers have a long tradition of publicly honouring the passing of former princely family members.
A royal chapter in Morbi's history closed quietly, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was among the first to mark the moment — expressing grief on Saturday, 17 October 2026 over the passing of Rajmata Vijaykunvarba, the revered matriarch of the Morbi royal family.
In a heartfelt post in Gujarati, CM Patel wrote: 'Morbi na Rajmata aadarniya Vijaykunvarba na nidhan par dukh ni lagni vyakt karun chhu.' — 'I express my grief at the passing of the respected Rajmata Vijaykunvarba of Morbi.' He recalled her abiding affection for the people of Morbi and her readiness to serve public welfare, calling these qualities 'forever memorable.' He concluded with a prayer that 'the Almighty grant peace to her departed soul and give strength to the royal family and her loved ones to bear this sorrow' — closing with the traditional invocation Om Shanti.Morbi's royal legacy and a life of public service
Morbi, a city in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, was once the seat of a prominent princely state. Like many such states that merged into independent India, Morbi's royal family retained deep cultural and social standing among local residents long after formal abolition of princely titles. Rajmata Vijaykunvarba was regarded as a maternal figure — Rajmata, literally 'Queen Mother' — embodying the welfare traditions and community bonds of the former principality.
A state tradition of honouring former princely families
Chief Ministers in Gujarat have long maintained a practice of publicly acknowledging the passing of members of former princely families. It is a gesture that bridges pre-independence social structures with contemporary democratic governance — recognising both historical significance and ongoing community ties. CM Patel's condolence follows this established tradition, underscoring the respect the Morbi royal family commands across the region.
Point of View
And acknowledging its royal matriarch publicly reinforces the BJP's long-standing effort to cultivate social capital across Saurashtra. The message is restrained and devotional in tone, calibrated to signal respect rather than political proximity. It reflects a broader pattern in which Chief Ministers treat former royal families as cultural anchors rather than relics.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rajmata Vijaykunvarba of Morbi?
Rajmata Vijaykunvarba was the revered Queen Mother of the Morbi royal family, a former princely state in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. She was widely respected for her affection for Morbi's people and her public welfare work.
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel post a condolence for Vijaykunvarba?
CM Bhupendra Patel expressed grief following the passing of Rajmata Vijaykunvarba, honouring a longstanding tradition in Gujarat of publicly acknowledging the deaths of members of former princely families given their cultural and social significance.
What did CM Bhupendra Patel say about Rajmata Vijaykunvarba?
CM Patel praised her abiding love for the people of Morbi and her readiness for public welfare work, calling both qualities 'forever memorable.' He prayed for peace for her soul and strength for the royal family.
Where is Morbi located in Gujarat?
Morbi is a city in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. It was historically the seat of a prominent princely state that merged into independent India.
What does 'Rajmata' mean?
'Rajmata' is a Sanskrit-origin title meaning 'Queen Mother,' used to refer to the mother of a reigning or former king in Indian princely traditions.
